Time traveler caught on film: Real or hoax?

Meagan Morris is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist living in New York City. In addition to SheKnows, Morris contributes to many publications including The New York Times, Yahoo! News, PopEater, NBC New York and Spinner. Follow he...

Time traveler in Chaplin film?

An Irish filmmaker that said he witnessed a time traveler caught on film while watching a Charlie Chaplin DVD. Is this real, or just a fun hoax?

It seems fitting that this would come out during the 25th birthday celebration of Back to the Future.

An Irish filmmaker claims that a time traveler was caught on film during a Charlie Chaplin movie premiere in 1928, and he has the video to prove it.

Time traveler: The obvious explanation

The Belfast-based filmmaker George Clarke stumbled on the footage while watching a Charlie Chaplin DVD set. He claims to have asked over 100 people their opinion and they've developed the only plausible answer: Time traveler.

In the footage, a woman (or man in drag) is seen entering the video holding a small device to her ear. It's easy to miss – so Clarke slowed down the footage to show it in slow motion. Indeed, it does look like the woman in question is holding a small device to her ear, and it looks like she's speaking.

Weighing the options

Science fiction fans are having a field day with the footage – they're hoping this proves that time travel is possible.

Still, others aren't so convinced.

Various naysayers are claiming that the small black device is everything from an early hearing aid to a handkerchief -- or it's all just one big hoax.

Count us as skeptical -- how did the time traveler get service in 1928 America? There weren't any cell phone towers around at the time. Also, people surely would have noticed something odd, but no one is looking at the time traveler caught on film.

Check out the video and decide for yourself. What do you think the woman is holding?